Humanitarian Aid Flotilla Sets Sail for Gaza, Aims to Break Israeli Maritime Blockade of Gaza

On Sunday, August 31, 2025, the Global Sumud Flotilla departed from the port of Barcelona on a humanitarian mission to Gaza, aiming to challenge Israel's maritime blockade that has severely restricted access to the besieged Palestinian enclave. The flotilla includes approximately 20 boats carrying over 300 people, including activists, artists, politicians, doctors, journalists, and campaigners hailing from more than 44 countries. Among the most notable participants are climate activist Greta Thunberg, actress Susan Sarandon, actor Liam Cunningham, and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau. The mission aspires to deliver humanitarian aid—including food, water, and medicine—to Palestinians who face a dire humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the ongoing blockade and escalating military offensive by Israel in Gaza City.

The gathering at Barcelona's port saw supporters waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in solidarity with Gaza amid intense international focus on the region’s suffering. Greta Thunberg, speaking at a press conference before departure, condemned the ongoing violence and the global silence surrounding the crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for political action and humanitarian relief. Thunberg criticized world governments for their failure to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow unhindered aid access, calling the blockade a deliberate deprivation of basic human necessities that threatens survival for half a million people at catastrophic hunger levels.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is traveling from Barcelona towards shores in Italy, Greece, and Tunisia, where additional vessels and supplies will join before the convoy attempts to reach Gaza’s coastline. Organizers emphasize the mission's strictly peaceful and humanitarian nature, underscoring their commitment to international law and nonviolent resistance in the face of what they characterize as an illegal siege. The name "Sumud," meaning steadfastness in Arabic, symbolizes Palestinian resilience and the right to remain steadfast on their land, a concept celebrated in Palestinian art and culture.

Israeli officials defend the blockade as necessary to prevent weapon smuggling to Hamas and dismiss flotilla attempts as politically motivated efforts that endanger regional security. However, the flotilla organizers argue that the blockade constitutes collective punishment in violation of international law, contributing to one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in recent history.

As the boats set sail, participants reaffirm their dedication to humanitarian principles and to drawing global attention to the plight of Gaza's population, advocating for an immediate end to the blockade and tthe opening of a humanitarian corridor to alleviate suffering.

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